Latest Site Updates http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/ The latest web site update is for our walk on Sunday 25 July, which was a walk over Cotherstone Moor from Hury Reservoir visting the lovely summit of Goldsborough http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/250710/goldsborough.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/250710/goldsborough.htm The latest web site update is my journal entry for Saturday 17 July, from a visit to the waterfalls of Low Force and High Force in Upper Teesdale http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/journal/170710/high_force.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/journal/170710/high_force.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Sunday (11th July) which was in the lovely valley of Arkengarthdale, through the old lead mine ruins of Slei Gill http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/110710/arkengarthdale.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/110710/arkengarthdale.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Sunday (27th June) which was over Fell End Clouds, a limestone pavement/outcrop on the northern slopes of Wild Boar Fell in the Yorkshire Dales http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/270610/fell_end_clouds.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/270610/fell_end_clouds.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Friday (25th June) which was a walk along the River Swale between the villages of Muker and Keld in Upper Swaledale through the wild Flower meadows http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/250610/muker.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/250610/muker.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Sunday (20th June) which was the ascent of Rannerdale Knotts from Hause Point, returning through the valley of Rannerdale http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/200610/rannerdale_knotts.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/200610/rannerdale_knotts.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Saturday (12th June) which was the ascent of Gowbarrow Fell via Aira Force and Green Hill http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/120610/gowbarrow_fell.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/120610/gowbarrow_fell.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Saturday (5th June) which was the ascent of Orrest Head with some friends from the Online Fellwalking Club to remember the first ascent of this fell by Alfred Wainwright 80 years ago! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/050610/orrest_head.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/050610/orrest_head.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Sunday (30th May) which was short walk in lovely Teesdale. Visiting the waterfalls of Summerhill Force and Low Force, we also took the opportunity to hunt out some of the wild flowers that this area is famous for. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/300510/wildflower_walk.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/300510/wildflower_walk.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Saturday (22nd May) which was the ascent of Orrest Head with some friends from the Wainwright Society to remember the first ascent of this fell by Alfred Wainwright 80 years ago! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/220510/orrest_head.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/220510/orrest_head.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Sunday (2nd May) in the delighful valley of Dentdale on the western side of the Yorkshire Dales. Our route was the ascent of Whernside via Flinter Gill and the Occupation Road, as part of the Best of the Rest Challenge http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/020510/whernside.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/020510/whernside.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Saturday (24th April) over in the Far Eastern Fells, climbing the Wainwright fells, Brock Crags and Angletarn Pikes from Cow Bridge, also paying a visit to our favourite of the Lakeland tarns, Angle Tarn http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/240410/angle_tarn.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/240410/angle_tarn.htm Our latest web site update is from our walk on Saturday (17th April) at Buckden in Wharfedale http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/170410/buckden.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/170410/buckden.htm Our latest web site update is our first wild camping trip of the year, up at Easedale Tarn near to Grasmere in the Central Lakeland Fells http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/100410/easedale_tarn.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/100410/easedale_tarn.htm Our latest web site update is our walk on Easter Sunday, where we made a long awaited return to the Howgill Fells for an ascent of The Calf from Sedbergh http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/040410/the_calf.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/040410/the_calf.htm Our latest web site update is our walk on Good Friday morning to the stunning 'Teesdale Waterfalls' http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/020410/low_force.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/020410/low_force.htm Our latest web site update is our walk from last Sunday, from the village of Elterwater. Walking over to Little Langdale to visit Slaters Bridge and Cathedral Cave, before heading over to Blea Tarn for lunch. Our return to Elterwater was through the Great Langdale valley on the Cumbria Way. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/280310/the_langdales.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/280310/the_langdales.htm Our latest web site update is our walk from last Monday (the 22nd), which was a stroll around the Naddle Valley, in the north of the Lakes, visiting Caslterigg Stone Circle and the delightful Tewet Tarn. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/220310/tewet_tarn.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/220310/tewet_tarn.htm Our latest web site update is our walk from last Sunday (the 21st), which was a stroll through Hamsterley Forest which is quite local to us, and an great spot for getting away from it all. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/210310/hamsterley_forest.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/210310/hamsterley_forest.htm Our latest web site update is our walk from last Sunday (the 14th), which was the delightful walk along the River's Twiss and Doe to see the Ingleton Waterfalls. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/140310/waterfalls_walk.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/140310/waterfalls_walk.htm Our latest web site update is our walk from last Saturday, which was the ascent of Ingleborough from Ingleton village, via Crina Bottom. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/130310/ingleborough.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/130310/ingleborough.htm Another walk uploaded tonight, this one is from our walk last Friday afternoon at Ribblehead. We did a walk from Alfred Wainwrights 'Walks in Limestone Country' book which was a fun exploration of the moorland huting out some of the pot holes! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/120310/ribblehead.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/120310/ribblehead.htm I've just uploaded the latest set of photo's to the web site, from our walk on Saturday 6th March. which are from the ascent of Eagle Crag and Sergeants Crag from Rosthwaite. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/060310/eagle_crag.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/060310/eagle_crag.htm I've just uploaded the final set of photo's from our break over at Loweswater, which are from the ascent of Lords Seat and Barf from the Whinlatter Forest visitor centre. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/020310/lords_seat.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/020310/lords_seat.htm I've just uploaded the fourth set of photo's from our break last weekend over at Loweswater, which are from a walk around Mellbreak and Crummock Water http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/010310/crummock_water.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/010310/crummock_water.htm I've just uploaded the third set of photo's from our break last weekend over at Loweswater, which are from our walk over in Wasdale on Middle Fell and Buckbarrow http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/280210/middle_fell.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/280210/middle_fell.htm I've just uploaded the second set of photo's from our break last weekend over at Loweswater, which are from a brilliant linear walk over the 'wainwright' tops of Fellbarrow and Low Fell, from Thackthwaite, accommpanied by Roger and Ann Hiley http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/270210/low_fell.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/270210/low_fell.htm I've just uploaded the first set of photo's from our break last weekend over at Loweswater, which are from a rather damp and clod walk around Loweswater lake. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/260210/loweswater.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/260210/loweswater.htm I've uploaded a new set of photo's from our last Sunday's along the River Tees between Low Force and High Force http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/140210/low_force.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/140210/low_force.htm I've uploaded a new set of photo's from our last Saturday's along the River Swale from Reeth, in Swaledale http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/130210/reeth.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/130210/reeth.htm I've uploaded a new set of photo's from our another of our stunning walks in the Lakes, this one was an ascent of Lingmoor Fell from Elterwater village, returning along the Langdale valley http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/310110/lingmoor_fell.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/310110/lingmoor_fell.htm I've uploaded a new set of photo's from our walk on Sunday along the Teesdale way from Darlington back to home at High Coniscliffe http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/100110/teesdale_way.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/100110/teesdale_way.htm I've uploaded a new set of photo's from our early morning walk on Saturday morning to see how much of the River had frozen over. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/090110/bigfreeze.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/090110/bigfreeze.htm I've uploaded a new set of photo's from Wednesday afternoons walk along the River Tees with Tim. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/060110/river_tees.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/060110/river_tees.htm We decided to give my back a little longer walk today to see how it stood up. So having walked along the river from Gainford yesterday we thought lets do the section of the Teesdale Way from home to Low Coniscliffe. We didn't get chance to go out till mid-afternoon, after spending most of the morning cleaning the black hair algae out of the big aquarium, horrible stuff, buts it done now! It was a glorious afternoon, with clear blue skies and hardly a breath of wind, I hoped we might get a nice sun set so rather than going along the river first, we headed out over the fields. It's very easy walking, but can get muddy in places, but with the freezing temperatures today, everything was frozen solid and crunched underfoot. I thought my hopes of a nice sunset had been dashed, as all the time we were out a thin blanket of high cloud had been slowly drifting south, covering the sun. But just as I'd given up hope the sun started to re-appear under the cloud as it started to set. The last half an hour of the walk was stunning, the setting sun made the sky go all shades of red, oranges and purples. I got some lovely photo's, but they can't ever recreate the feeling of been there at the time. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/030110/coniscliffes.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/030110/coniscliffes.htm This wasn't the first walk that I'd planned to do in 2010, but with the way I'd been feeling over the last couple of days, this was short walk was more than enough for me. I was at the hospital on Wednesday to see the physio for the first time about my neck. After the work out he gave me, combined with the exercises, my neck/back had complained a bit over the last couple of days. We decided to catch the bus up the valley to Gainford and then follow the Teesdale Way back to home. We've done the walk a few times before, it's not the best walk but it made a nice change. The walking is very easy, the hardest thing was the very slippery paths. We've had snow lying around the village now for the last 16 days and the old stuff has gone very icy in places. The highlight of the walk is the old roman fort at Piercebridge, there's only a small portion of the fort visible, but well worth a visit. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/020110/gainford.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2010walks/020110/gainford.htm We hadn't planned on doing a walk as long as this one, but the conditions were so nice we couldn't help wandering! I had a pair a boots to pick up in Keswick, a replacement pair for my old ones which sprung a leak. Our original plan was to pick the boots up and head back to Aira Force for a shortish walk around the falls. However, as we soon realised as we drove over the A66 to Keswick, it was one of those rare 'perfect' days to be out walking. Clear blue skies, loads of bright sun and everywhere was covered in crispy white snow, what more could you ask for? After getting my boots and grabbing a couple of pasties for our lunch, we set off for our walk. We could have gone up onto Walla Crag again, the views would have been amazing from the top, but we were only there 3 weeks ago. So we paid a visit to Castlerigg Stone Circle instead, it's hard to think in all the years I've been going to the Lakes I'd never once been there before. I don't we could have picked a better day for this our first visit, the views of Blencathra, Skiddaw and the Helvellyn range where stunning. We had our lunch at the circle and I took literally dozens of photo's there, the best view was down into St John's in the Vale where there was a thin layer of mist hanging in the valley. Rather than retracing our route back to Keswick to headed towards Blencathra to join the old railway line, a nice easy route back. It did involve a little road walking but it wasn't too bad. It was another brilliant walk, I couldn't think of a nicer way to round off what's been a great year for walking! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/281209/castlerigg.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/281209/castlerigg.htm I was getting a little bored, with taking Tim for his daily walk, along the river at home. So on Sunday morning we headed along the valley to Bowlees to have a walk along the River Tees between Low Force. This is one of favourite walks, in fact this would be our ninth time doing the walk this year. We were surprised at how quiet it was, we only met a dozen or so people while we were out. You could tell from all the feet marks in the snow that loads had people had been there in previous days. Maybe the the predicted icy weather and snow showers had put them off? http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/271209/high_force.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/271209/high_force.htm This is a collection of photograph's from the week leading up to Christmas Day. The weather had been really unusual in the fact that we've had snow lying on the ground in the village for the last several days. Now that's not very common, it's probably at least 10 years since the last occurrence. I'd spent most of the week tucked up nice and warm in bed with my bad neck/back and the complications that have been caused by the pain killers. However, the doctor wants me to keep as mobile as possible, easier said than done mind you! So I'd managed to drag myself out of the warm bed, to give Tim a walk along the river at home, at least once a day. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/251209/snowy_week.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/251209/snowy_week.htm Your chance to vote for your favourite photo from those that I've taken over the last few weeks .... http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/pom/pom_1209.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/pom/pom_1209.htm This was the third walk of our long weekend in Borrowdale. The weather forecast was much better than the previous couple of days, with the overnight rain soon clearing to a warm and sunny day. I wanted to get a long walk in, practice for my trip to Nepal next weekend. I wasn't that bothered about going high, so I decided that a walk to Sty Head Tarn was the order of the day. The first part of the route was along the flat valley floor to Seathwaite Farm and then to Stockley Bridge. Our ascent route was up Grains Gill + Ruddy Gill to reach the foot of the crags on Great End. After a really pleasant lunch stop at Sprinkling Tarn to dropped down to Sty Head Tarn and then we followed the 'Corridor Route' down past Taylorgill Force back to the bridge. It was such a lovely afternoon we stopped at the farm for tea and cakes before walking back along the road to Rosthwaite. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/220809/sty_head.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/220809/sty_head.htm The weather just seemed to be getting wetter and wetter as our weeks holiday went on. Our walking boots were soaked through by now and it wasn't that nice putting your feet into cold wet boots! The weather forecast was still for heavy showers and strong winds, so after a browse of the walking books over breakfast we headed off to Pont Bethania, where the Watkin Path starts from. We had no intention of trying to make the summit today, but it's one path we've never walked so we'd see how far we would get! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/041109/cwm_llan.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/041109/cwm_llan.htm Even though we had all really enjoyed our trip to the beach the previous day, we headed back into the hills today. The weather forecast still wasn't fantastic so we picked on a walk in the woods surrounding Capel Curig. It's one of those places that we always seem to drive through and never stop. The walk was was really nice, a mixture of quite country lanes and woodland paths. The views back towards Snowdon and the Ogwen valley were great despite the heavy showers blocking them out at times. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/031109/capel_curig.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/031109/capel_curig.htm After our soaking the day before and the weather forecast was for more rain, we decided to give the mountains a miss and give our boots tim to dry out. So after a big hearty breakfast we headed out to the Lleyn Peninsula, a place we'd never visited before. The idea was to give Tim as good run out on one of the beaches along the coast and to pick up a few supplies. It ended up Tim enjoying a run on several beaches in the end, I'm still finding sand in the boot of the car weeks later! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/021109/day_at_the_beach.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/021109/day_at_the_beach.htm My initial plan for today's walk for to head for The Howgill Fells, somewhere that we haven't walked very much. However, after seeing the weather forecast, which was saying there could be some cloud 'cloud inversions' in the Lakes I decided to change my mind. So it was a very early start, up at 6am, no breakfast just a quick coffee and I was off, hoping to get above the cloud before the sun rose! Well so much for plans, it quickly became apparent as I drove over A66 that the inversion wasn't going to be there. It wasn't the end of the world, there was always the hope of a nice sun rise instead. It was still dark and very cold and icy as me and Tim dog headed out of the car park, the moon was still out and there were just a few clouds in the sky, things were looking good. As we climbed up to Boredale Hause we were treated to a glimpses of the rising sun catching the tops of the high fells. But the stunning sun rise never materialised as large patches of cloud kept drifting in from the east. By the time I got to Angle Tarn the sky was looking pretty grey, so I found a nice spot for breakfast. You can't beat cold cumberland sausage butties with lashings of HP brown sauce and a flask of coffee, honest! While I was stopped there was a big change in the weather, the sun eventually broke through the clouds and for the rest of the walk me and Tim were treated to some stunning views, well worth the getting up early for! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/121209/angle_tarn.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/121209/angle_tarn.htm We had arranged a couple of days over in the Lakes, to meet up with some friends. We had to go over to Keswick on the Friday to take a pair of my boots back, that have sprung a leak! It was such a lovely morning I decided to give a very early dog walk along the river before breakfast. By the time we'd driven over to Keswick and sorted by boots out at the shop it was midday, which didn't leave us much time for a walk. So after picking up lunch, in the form of a couple of giant Cornish pasties we had a walk up onto Walla Crag. The weather had started off really sunny and bright, but after having lunch on the summit the cloud had drifted over making it a rather dull afternoon. Instead of heading over to Ashness Bridge, as was the original plan, we decided to drop down Cat Gill and pick up lakeside path back to Keswick. It's been years since I'd been up or down Cat Gill and the stone pitched path is a great improvement. It didn't help my back though, I was still shattered by the bottom, I'm hoping to hear from the hospital very soon about getting to see someone. The walk back along the shores of Derwent Water revealed how much damage had been caused in the recent flooding. At times it was very hard to believe how high the water level had been. It was getting really dark by we got back to Keswick, apologies if some of the photo's are a little grainy, the camera was trying hard to cope with the low light! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/041209/walla_crag.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/041209/walla_crag.htm I was feeling quite a bit better this week, I think the change in pain management drugs had helped. So I decided to try how strong my back and neck where by trying a bit more of an adventurous walk. When I left home it was really foggy and I thought that I wasn't going to get any photo's, but by the time I'd gotten over to Penrith the cloud has started to break up. To my great surprise I saw that all of the fells had a dusting of snow on them, above 1000 feet. This hadn't been forecasted, well they said there could be the odd light snow shower, but nothing like this. So I was more than happy as me and Tim walked along the road towards Greenside mines, enjoying the warm morning sun and views of the snow covered fells. It was only when I started the climb up to Red Tarn that I found out that my back/legs where still much weaker than I'd thought. It was a bit of a struggle getting up there, but I took my time, anyway, there was loads of great views to photograph. I was surprised at how few people were out on the fells, I only met about 20 or so all day. Normally on a day like today, with the first fall of winter snow the place would have been packed. Obviously the flooding from last week has put loads of people off. Well you can take it from me, Cumbria is definitely back open for business and the fells are just waiting to be climbed. There was some signs of flood damage but nothing to stop you visiting. It was a shame to see the cafe's and shops so empty when we got back down into Glenridding, and as you will see in my last photo, the car park was virtually empty! It was great to get back out and enjoy a walk on the fells, even if by the time I'd gotten back to the car I had very little feeling left in my back/legs, it was well worth it. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/281109/birkhouse_moor.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/281109/birkhouse_moor.htm Apologies for the delay in posting this details of this walk we did at the beginning of the month. But since we got home last weekend I've had technical problems in accessing my web server to upload anything. Well its loaded up now, so I hope you like the very wet and soggy splodge we had on the first day of our Snowdonia holiday! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/011109/cwm_bychan.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/011109/cwm_bychan.htm After the glorious weather from last weekend when we have the stunning views on our loughrigg walk, the grey skies and windy conditions we got on Sunday were a reminder that we are heading towards winter. We met up with Roger and Ann hiley to have a wander up onto Gavel Fell. Despite the miserable weather we had a great walk with them, and managed to tick off another one of our wainwright summits! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/251009/gavel_fell.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/251009/gavel_fell.htm Well the autumn colours just keep getting better and better, and combined with the lovely sun and blue skies we had on Saturday, it made for some beautiful photos. The walk was an easy traverse around the slopes of Loughrigg Fell, but with the colours and weather they way they were, who needs to go on to the high fells to enjoy the beauty of the Lake District????? http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/171009/loughrigg.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/171009/loughrigg.htm Another short walk this week, we made the most of the warm sunny weather on Saturday to pay a visit to the waterfalls at Aira Force. Followed by an ascent of the Wainwright summit of Gowbarrow Fell. The autumnal colours are really starting to come out now, another couple of weeks and they will be stunning. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/101009/gowbarrow.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/101009/gowbarrow.htm I've now managed to get the photographs and web pages sorted out for days 9 to 11 from my recent trip to Nepal. This covers the return journey from Gorak Shep back to Lukla, which took us 8 days on the way out and only 3 back! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/everest/everest.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/everest/everest.htm I've now managed to get the photographs and web pages sorted out for days 1 to 8 from my recent trip to Nepal. This covers the outward journey from Lukla airport all the way through to Everest Base Camp. I'm still working on the web pages for the other days and the overall journal page, but if you follow the links at the bottom of each page you should be able to navigate through them ok. http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/everest/day1/everest_base_camp_1.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/everest/day1/everest_base_camp_1.htm A short walk around Tarn Hows, Holme Fell and Hodge Close quarry. The views were really stunning, especially first thing when the tarns were flat calm and the reflections were amazing. Well worth the effort of getting up and heading across to the Lakes! http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/200909/tarn_hows.htm http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/200909/tarn_hows.htm